Advice Needed
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,949
Likes: 150
From: South of Mordor
I agree with pretty much what most have said. Stick to you plan, take the course, hell take it twice if you want, you'll still learn something the second time and with a little more confidence the process will be easier to apply yourself to. Then if you still feel the desire to ride, seek out a nice small bike like Norty pointed out. After a year or two of riding and applying the fundamentals from the riders course, moving up to a bigger bike only really involves learning to deal with the added weight and change in geometry of the new ride. The fundamentals don't change nor does the operation of the motorcycle.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,448
Likes: 2,299
From: NW Ohio
Except the gawl.darn turn signals. All.the little Metrics I've ridden had the single three-way signal switch on the left. ALWAYS trips me up. Very, very minor thing, tho.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 21
From: Western PA
Rider course - definitely. Learn from seasoned riders on a 'classroom' bike that's already been dropped a hundred times. You won't be the first to put a scratch on it.
Buy a small used bike first - good advice. Practice, learn, build your skills and sell it whenever you're ready.
Wide Glide - your call. No doubt you can handle the bike, or learn to handle it, but it's probably not the first choice to learn to ride. If you -really- want your friend's bike (and you're prepared to park it while you complete steps 1 and 2 above), then go for it.
But... fair warning - the WG does handle a bit differently. Hard to describe to a non-rider. Compared to a dirt bike or a sport bike, my WG drives like a truck. Very heavy and very stable. Great on the highway but more work in town. It's not a 'nimble' bike, but it's rock solid and I love the Wide Glide look.
So when do you start your class?
Buy a small used bike first - good advice. Practice, learn, build your skills and sell it whenever you're ready.
Wide Glide - your call. No doubt you can handle the bike, or learn to handle it, but it's probably not the first choice to learn to ride. If you -really- want your friend's bike (and you're prepared to park it while you complete steps 1 and 2 above), then go for it.
But... fair warning - the WG does handle a bit differently. Hard to describe to a non-rider. Compared to a dirt bike or a sport bike, my WG drives like a truck. Very heavy and very stable. Great on the highway but more work in town. It's not a 'nimble' bike, but it's rock solid and I love the Wide Glide look.
So when do you start your class?
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Thank you all very much for your input... and for keeping me grounded! I am sticking to my plan. I mean, it was the plan all along until she threw an unexpected wrench in it last night and got my head spinning. I appreciate you guys bringing me back down to earth. :-)
Between the upcoming rallies around TX and a couple of benefits I've committed to in the upcoming weeks it will likely be closer to the end of May before I am able to take the course.
BTW... the same post in the "women's only' section still hasn't been approved. So while it may "smell peeerrrrty" over there, as one gentleman stated, the business was taken care of here so THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!
Between the upcoming rallies around TX and a couple of benefits I've committed to in the upcoming weeks it will likely be closer to the end of May before I am able to take the course.
BTW... the same post in the "women's only' section still hasn't been approved. So while it may "smell peeerrrrty" over there, as one gentleman stated, the business was taken care of here so THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!
A wide glide really isnt a rookie bike. That skinny front wheel makes the bike do strange things that you typically wouldn't have happen most bikes.
like other have said. A smaller crap starterbike mightbe better. There's no shame in it. I started on a 1985 VT500c in 2011/2012. Rode and wrenched it for about 5-6 months then got another bike. The vt500c sold for near what i paid for it. I learned tons on that little light bike. I only sold it because i thought had to since I was moving. 😔
im surprised that the suicide "get what you want" squad hasn't popped up.
like other have said. A smaller crap starterbike mightbe better. There's no shame in it. I started on a 1985 VT500c in 2011/2012. Rode and wrenched it for about 5-6 months then got another bike. The vt500c sold for near what i paid for it. I learned tons on that little light bike. I only sold it because i thought had to since I was moving. 😔
im surprised that the suicide "get what you want" squad hasn't popped up.
Last edited by cvaria; Mar 28, 2017 at 08:41 AM.
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really nice little bike. I rode it last week. Lot of power and super light
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,350
Likes: 647
From: Vegas, baby!
Perhaps they feel more empathy because the OP is a small female?